EMP Metals
EMP Metals Corp. is a Canadian public junior lithium company advancing Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology to produce battery-grade lithium from over 205,000 acres of Duperow Formation brine assets in Saskatchewan for future sale to EV battery and energy storage customers.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersNorth Vancouver, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What EMP Metals does
EMP Metals Corp. (CSE: EMPS, OTCQB: EMPPF, FSE: 9ST) is a Canadian junior lithium exploration and development company focused on unlocking large-scale lithium brine resources in Saskatchewan's Duperow Formation using Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE). Originally incorporated in 2020 as Sentinel Resources Corp., the company pivoted from gold and silver exploration to lithium in 2021–2022 via the acquisition of Hub City Minerals Corp. and Hub City Lithium Corp., and now controls over 205,000 acres (83,000 hectares) of subsurface mineral dispositions across its Viewfield and Mansur project areas, with an inferred mineral resource estimate of 931,038 tonnes and brine concentrations up to 259 mg/L (Viewfield) and 217 mg/L (Mansur).
The company's technical platform centers on a DLE process developed and demonstrated in partnership with Saltworks Technologies Inc., with early validation via a Field Pilot Facility operated with Koch Technology Solutions that produced 99.7% battery-grade lithium carbonate. Its flagship Project Aurora Demonstration Plant, a fully integrated lithium brine facility designed to process 10 m³/day of raw brine from wellhead to battery-grade chemicals, completed construction in August 2026 and is commissioning toward a Q3 2026 start-up at the Viewfield site. Modular commercial facilities targeting 1,500–3,000+ tonnes/year of lithium products are the next stage, supported by the Government of Saskatchewan's 3% lithium production royalty rate, a C$4.27M SCMII transferable royalty tax credit, up to C$3.2M in NGen funding, C$1M from Innovate BC, and additional BCIN support.
EMP remains pre-revenue (FY2022–FY2025 revenue reported as $0, with FY2025 EBITDA loss of approximately C$2.8M) and is funded through a mix of recurring, often oversubscribed non-brokered private placements, a US$3M convertible loan facility from anchor investor Tembo Capital (extended to June 2027 at a $0.425/share conversion price), and the roughly C$8.5M in non-dilutive Canadian federal and provincial incentives. The intended commercial customer base is enterprise B2B — electric vehicle and lithium-ion battery manufacturers and grid-scale energy storage companies — to be served via direct off-take agreements for lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide once commercial modules are in operation.
EMP Metals firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- EMP Metals
- Legal name
- EMP Metals Corp.
- Website
- https://empmetals.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- EMP Metals Corp. is a Canadian public junior lithium company advancing Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology to produce battery-grade lithium from over 205,000 acres of Duperow Formation brine assets in Saskatchewan for future sale to EV battery and energy storage customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
EMP Metals industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Lithium Brine Extraction
- SIC
- Metal Mining (1000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Lithium Mining & Brine Extraction (IMAKAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Mine Development & Processing EPC (Critical Minerals) (IMAKAFAM)
Keywords
Where EMP Metals is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- North Vancouver
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
EMP Metals business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Lithium Production and Sales: As a lithium exploration and development company, EMP Metals' primary future revenue will come from producing and selling lithium products (lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide) to EV battery manufacturers, energy storage companies, and other industrial users. The company is currently in demonstration phase with commercial production targeted at 1,500-3,000 tonnes per year initially.
- Government Incentives and Tax Credits: The company secures non-dilutive government funding through programs including BCIN Fund, NGen program, and Saskatchewan Critical Minerals Innovation Incentive (SCMII) to support Project Aurora development.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
EMP Metals product offering
Product offeringCore offering
EMP Metals is a Canadian lithium exploration and development company developing large-scale direct lithium extraction (DLE) assets in Saskatchewan's Duperow Formation. The company is building the Project Aurora Demonstration Plant, a fully integrated facility that processes raw subsurface brine from wellhead to battery-grade lithium chemicals, with future commercial modules targeting 1,500–3,000+ tonnes per year of lithium output. Current commercial product is intended to be battery-grade lithium carbonate (99.7% purity already validated at the prior DLE Field Pilot).
Product overview
EMP Metals Corp. is a Canadian-based lithium exploration and development company operating a platform-plus-technology approach focused on unlocking large-scale brine resources in Saskatchewan using Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE). The company's primary offerings include the Project Aurora Demonstration Plant (an integrated lithium refining facility processing raw brine to battery-grade lithium chemicals), the Viewfield and Mansur Lithium Projects (flagship resource development areas), and the DLE Technology itself. The Duperow Formation Assets represent over 205,000 acres of subsurface mineral dispositions. A prior DLE Field Pilot Facility successfully demonstrated battery-grade lithium carbonate production. The portfolio is designed to progress from demonstration through commercial-scale lithium production targeting 1,500-3,000+ tonnes per year.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Project Aurora Demonstration Plant Fully integrated lithium brine demonstration facility in Saskatchewan's Viewfield Project Area, processing 10 m³/day of raw brine from wellhead to lithium chemicals. Designed to validate Generation-II DLE flowsheet at demonstration scale and generate engineering and economic data to support future commercial modules targeting 3,000+ tonnes per year of lithium output.
- Viewfield Lithium Project EMP Metals' flagship lithium brine project in Saskatchewan, covering part of the lithium-rich Duperow Formation with high flow rates and brine concentrations up to 259 mg/L lithium. The host site for the Project Aurora Demonstration Plant.
- Mansur Lithium Project Lithium project area in southeast Saskatchewan with brine concentrations up to 217 mg/L lithium. Part of EMP Metals' portfolio of Duperow Formation lithium assets and contributes to the company's combined high-grade mineral resource estimate of 931,038 tonnes.
- Duperow Formation Land Holdings Over 205,000 acres (83,000 hectares) of Subsurface Mineral Crown Dispositions and strategic wellbores in Southern Saskatchewan's lithium-rich Duperow Formation, forming the foundational resource base for EMP Metals' lithium extraction operations.
- Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) Field Pilot Facility Initial field pilot facility in Saskatchewan that demonstrated successful DLE operations and produced battery-grade lithium carbonate at 99.7% purity, validating the technology pathway prior to construction of the larger Project Aurora Demonstration Plant.
Quantifiable outcome
- Production of 99.7% pure battery-grade lithium carbonate confirmed through pilot program
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use EMP Metals
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
EMP Metals technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
EMP Metals partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and flagship.
- NGen (Next Generation Manufacturing Canada)majorNGen approved up to $3.2 million in funding for Project Aurora, a joint initiative with Saltworks to demonstrate an integrated, continuous-flow lithium refining system. The funding supports Canada's domestic supply chains for critical minerals and competitiveness in the global energy materials market.
- Innovate BC (Integrated Marketplace Program)major$1 million in funding awarded through British Columbia's Integrated Marketplace program for a Mining and Critical Minerals Testbed initiative. Saltworks is designing and fabricating the Generation-II lithium refining demonstration system in BC for deployment at EMP's Saskatchewan facility.
- Saskatchewan Critical Minerals Innovation Incentive (SCMII)majorEMP approved for up to $4.27 million in transferable royalty and freehold production tax credits through Saskatchewan's Critical Minerals Innovation Incentive, supporting domestic lithium development.
- BC Innovative Clean Energy (BCIN) FundmajorNon-dilutive government funding through BCIN Fund to support Project Aurora development and advancement toward commercial-scale lithium production.
- Saltworks Technologies Inc.coreStrategic technology partnership for Project Aurora, developing an integrated lithium refining demonstration system. Saltworks designs and fabricates the Generation-II lithium refining system, provides commissioning and operations support, and advances full-scale plant design for modular commercial production. The partnership combines EMP's Saskatchewan brine resources with Saltworks' DLE technology expertise.
- Koch Technology SolutionsflagshipDLE Field Pilot Facility partnership for lithium extraction testing and validation in Saskatchewan. The pilot program successfully produced 99.7% battery-grade lithium carbonate, validating the technology for commercial deployment.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
EMP Metals competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Standard Lithium: Standard Lithium is developing lithium resources from Smackover brines and advancing direct lithium extraction toward commercial production. It is a direct peer because it combines brine-resource development, DLE technology, and a similar path from pilot to commercial lithium chemicals.
- E3 Lithium: E3 Lithium is developing Alberta-based Leduc brine resources using proprietary DLE technology and is moving toward commercial lithium production. It is a direct peer because of its brine resource base, DLE focus, and target customers in batteries and energy storage.
- Lake Resources: Lake Resources has focused on lithium brine projects, including the Kachi project and DLE-based processing plans. It is a direct peer to EMP in resource development, brine chemistry, and the need to validate scalable lithium production.
- Vulcan Energy: Vulcan Energy combines geothermal brine development with lithium extraction and aims to produce battery-grade lithium hydroxide in Europe. It is a direct peer in brine-to-chemical processing and DLE, although its geothermal resource model differs from EMP's Duperow acreage.
- International Battery Metals: International Battery Metals develops modular direct lithium extraction systems for brine resources, with a focus on deployable commercial plants. It is a direct technology peer to EMP's Saltworks partnership, though it is more equipment- and technology-focused than a mine developer.
- Clean Energy Lithium: Clean Energy Lithium develops lithium resources from South American salars and is pursuing DLE and refining pathways toward battery-grade products. It is a direct resource-development peer, with a similar need to prove brine chemistry, recovery, scale, and offtake.
- Controlled Thermal Resources: Controlled Thermal Resources is developing geothermal lithium resources and extraction in California, with a pathway to battery-grade lithium products. It is a direct peer in brine-based lithium development and DLE/refining, though its geothermal setting differs from EMP's Saskatchewan assets.
Emerging players
- Lilac Solutions: Lilac Solutions provides DLE technology and modular systems for lithium extraction from brines. It is an emerging player because its technology overlaps directly with EMP's DLE and refining process, while it does not operate the same Saskatchewan acreage.
- ReElement Technologies: ReElement Technologies develops lithium refining and separation technologies, including processes aimed at converting brine or recycled feedstock into battery-grade chemicals. It is an emerging technology peer because EMP's Generation II DLE and refining system targets a similar lithium-chemical output.
- Summit Nanotech: Summit Nanotech develops DLE technologies for selective lithium recovery from brines and has commercial-scale deployment ambitions. It is an emerging technology peer to EMP's integrated DLE-to-lithium-chemical platform.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
EMP Metals social profiles
Digital presenceEMP Metals financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
EMP Metals leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
EMP Metals subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
EMP Metals funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds8 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
EMP Metals M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about EMP Metals
What does EMP Metals do?
EMP Metals is a Canadian lithium exploration and development company developing large-scale direct lithium extraction (DLE) assets in Saskatchewan's Duperow Formation. The company is building the Project Aurora Demonstration Plant, a fully integrated facility that processes raw subsurface brine from wellhead to battery-grade lithium chemicals, with future commercial modules targeting 1,500–3,000+ tonnes per year of lithium output. Current commercial product is intended to be battery-grade lithium carbonate (99.7% purity already validated at the prior DLE Field Pilot).
Is EMP Metals a public or private company?
EMP Metals is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was EMP Metals founded?
EMP Metals was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is EMP Metals based?
EMP Metals is headquartered in North Vancouver, Canada, in the North America region.
How does EMP Metals make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Lithium Production and Sales are the primary driver. The others are government Incentives and Tax Credits.
Who are EMP Metals's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Standard Lithium, E3 Lithium, Lake Resources, Vulcan Energy, International Battery Metals, Clean Energy Lithium and Controlled Thermal Resources. Emerging players are Lilac Solutions, ReElement Technologies and Summit Nanotech.
Does EMP Metals have an API?
No public API is recorded for EMP Metals.
What industry is EMP Metals in?
EMP Metals's product category is Lithium Brine Extraction. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAKAFAA, Lithium Mining & Brine Extraction, with a secondary code of IMAKAFAM, Mine Development & Processing EPC (Critical Minerals). Its SIC code is 1000.